CHECKLIST: What mayors should do 48 hours before typhoon hits land

MANILA, Philippines – Alert level C: Charlie. 

The list above constitutes critical preparedness actions local governments should be taking 48 hours before Typhoon Dodong  (international name: Noul) hits land, following Oplan Listo (Operation Plan Alert). This is according to Allan Tabell, chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Central Office Disaster Information Coordinating Center.

On Friday, May 8, Tabell said local governments will be “more than 90% crossing 100%” prepared when Typhoon Dodongmakes landfall in Isabela on Sunday, May 10.

Vulnerable local government units are in the process of implementing Charlie actions, according to Tabell.

As of Friday night, May 8, the DILG identified the following LGUs as potential risk areas:

1. ABRA
2. ALBAY
3. APAYAO
4. AURORA
5. BATANES
6. BENGUET
7. CAGAYAN
8. CAMARINES NORTE
9. CAMARINES SUR
10. CATANDUANES
11. EASTERN SAMAR
12. IFUGAO
13. ILOCOS NORTE
14. ILOCOS SUR
15. ISABELA
16. ISABELA
17. KALINGA
18. LA UNION
19. MASBATE
20. MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
21. NORTHERN SAMAR
22. NUEVA ECIJA
23. NUEVA VIZCAYA
24. PANGASINAN
25. QUEZON
26. QUIRINO
27. SAMAR
28. SORSOGON

Oplan Listo

Oplan Listo uses a new disaster preparedness manual first used by the DILG when Typhoon Ruby hit in December 2014. It provides mayors and other local government disaster management agencies a checklist that enumerates what should be done before, during, and after typhoons. 

“The 48 hours between a typhoon’s entry into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and its landfall is tense and busy, which can lead to errors that can be easily avoided. This checklist is the tool to minimize those mistakes that may cost lives and grave destruction to properties,” Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said in the manual’s introduction.

The manual includes flowcharts that correspond to 3 phases of critical preparedness actions – Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. It also provides a tropical cyclone information board and reference boxes and minimum actions to guide mayors.

The 1991 Local Government Code and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 mandate local government units to be at the frontline of emergency measures during disasters. – Rappler.com

Check if your mayors are taking these minimum preparedness activities that LGUs should be enforcing in areas expected to be affected by Typhoon Dodong. Tell us how prepared your LGUs are through email (move.ph@rappler.com) or Twitter (@moveph).

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